Every year, hundreds of young adults go to developing countries, most commonly areas in Latin America, with religious or humanitarian organizations with the purpose of aiding the poor. What many do not realize is the potential harmful ramifications these trips can have on the very same people they aim to help. Many of these trips consist of building or painting a new school or orphanage, or bringing materials like food and clothing to the poor. While these activities seem innocent, they can easily end up disrupting the market already in place in these countries.
A big issue with this is the lack of utilizing local resources and people. Construction jobs can easily be done by local contractors. As Ray Sawatsky states in his article, “We Can Do Better,” by consistently giving food and clothing to a community, it stifles the market of potential local suppliers of food and people that can make clothing in the community. The incentive is taken away to have any kind of business, because local suppliers cannot compete with free goods. Not only this, but the clothing donated to these places are usually the throw-away items a person would not want anyway. Sawatsky suggests some alternative ideas such as having a makeshift market by selling the good donations to promote “dignity” and “accountability” with donors and local consumers. Those on mission trips can also work alongside local churches and leaders in the community to promote the local market and build up what is already in place. It may be hard to believe that these trips are not as helpful as they seem, but when done right, mission trips can be beneficial. It is just important to keep in mind the nature of the market in that community in order to not perpetuate poverty.
Sawatsky, Ray. “We Can Do Better.” Comment Magazine, 29 Oct. 2012, https://www.cardus.ca/comment/article/we-can-do-better/.